Atlantic STAR Fest: The Experience of a Lifetime!

On April 18^th, 2024, the Gonzaga High School Drama Club performed Don Zolidis’ play “The Monologue Show (From Hell)” at the St. John’s Drama Festival. Due to our winning an “Outstanding Performance” award, the team was invited to Corner Brook to participate in Atlantic STAR Fest. At the time I didn’t know the weekend ahead of us was going to be one of the best times in my life. I made so many memories, and I am so grateful for TAEA and everything they do to keep the arts community alive. Here’s a little bit about our experience:

On May 2nd, 15 cast members and two teachers piled into two rental vans and headed to Corner Brook. After seven hours on the road, we finally made it to the Arts & Culture Centre on Grenfell Campus. At the opening ceremonies, representatives of the Theatrical Arts Education Association of Canada (TAEA) welcomed us and told us what we could expect over the course of the coming days.

Then, throughout those days, we attended workshops, watched other performances, and even got to attend socials and mingle with the other groups who were participating in STAR Fest. We all made new friends through our shared love of theatre. It really lifted our spirits to see so many people interested and involved in the theatre world. Living in a community where the arts are often outshone by sports, it was new, refreshing and heartwarming to see so many like-minded people truly understand and respect the arts.

My 18th birthday was a special one, as I spent it at STAR Fest with the best theatre family I could ask for. On my birthday, we performed our play in the “One-Act, Low-Tech” category, and reached an advanced adjudication. At the awards ceremony, we, along with other troupes, were recognized for our accomplishment. Three of our group members, Robbie Little, Jack Drake and Vlada Hondia, auditioned for and won multiple acting scholarships.

STAR Fest has opened many doors to my acting experience. After STAR Fest I knew I wanted to continue acting and stay within the world of the arts. This past summer I landed a recurring background role on the CBC TV sitcom “Son of a Critch,” and later in the season I returned to work as the double of one of the lead characters, Fox. I was also fortunate enough to be cast in Whadda Ya Call It? Productions’ latest show, “10 Ways to Survive the Holidays,” as Crystal. (Whadda Ya Call It? Productions is a theatre company that features, and caters to, the youth of St. John’s and the surrounding area.) On that show, I got to meet so many amazing new people, and to work under the direction of talented local theatre director Jody Rideout.

To say STAR Fest was the experience of a lifetime would be an understatement. I am forever grateful for TAEA for granting these opportunities to people and helping the arts community to flourish. I want to extend a special thank-you to Kristin Murphy and Tervor Menchions, who not only directed “The Monologue Show (From Hell),” but also got us to and from Corner Brook safely; to the entire cast, who worked tirelessly every day to bring this show to life; and last, but certainly not least, to TAEA, for giving us this opportunity and supporting our hopes and dreams.